Have we empowered those who represent the cause to have authentic interactions with other members of the tribe? The following online exchange between a Netflix representative and a customer is indicative of an environment that allows for a creative and memorable exchange.
When you only have the answer it is easy to walk around looking for the right equation to make your answer compute. If you run a school that believes your budget only balances when you have 450 students enrolled it is easy to deduce that you need 50 students per grade. However, we rarely ask the question, “how small could we be?” What if we only enrolled 300 students? What would that do to the learning environment, the effectiveness of the teachers, program selection, resources, partnerships? It is a question worthy of exploring for many enterprises.
Kai Ryssdal from Marketplace radio interviewed Malcom Gladwell about his new book, David and Goliath: Underdogs, Misfits, and the Art of Batteling Giants. One of Gladwell’s more provocative questions is, ‘how small can we be?’ He suggested his fellow Canadians ask this question of their country. Does Canada as a series of micro-states make more sense than the current and vast version. It leads to an intriguing conversation that does not always have easy answers.
A powerful exercise from the the Heath Brother’s book, Decisive is to run the vanishing options test. Start stripping away the peripheral features of a program or organization to see when it becomes uncoupled from its purpose. A summer camp may realize that it could continue to deliever its core belief without archery, arts and crafts, swimming, skit night, and an overnight backpack. But if they removed the nightly campfire the experience would fundamentally change. The campfire offers the platform on which community is created, stories that highlight the camp’s values are exchanged, and the bond of friendship are solidified. As they begin to rebuild the camp from its core there is a greater appreciation for the programs layer on top of the fundamental portion.
Try it today. Ask how how small your cause can be? Try running the vanishing options test. Move forward with more certainty about what is nonnegotiable and what adds color to your efforts.
When you believe in something and are willing to stand out on the edge with your passion, you are remarkable. Consider what John and Hank Green have done with their “Crash Course” YouTube channel. It changes the way I think about history (and I was a history major).
I sat next to a woman on my flight this weekend who was returning from an intensive corporate training session for an well-known chain. When I asked her if she could define the central belief of the company she responded, ‘profit is in the little details.’ That is an actionable sentiment but I was perplexed as to how it could reflect the organization’s core belief. It might be a ‘how’ in Simon Sinek’s Golden Circle but not the ‘why.’ It was a safe response but not different or inspiring. After three weeks this was at the top of her mind. It reminds me of Hugh Macleod’s cartoon about climbing a ladder to nowhere. The tag line feels like progress but it is unsupported. As Simon says, ‘people do not buy what you do they buy why you do it.’
Looking to think differently and surround yourself with those who choose an unconventional approach? Chris Guillebeau’s World Domination Summit is about to open the next round of registration. This is the most compelling and inspiring conference I attend each year. It fascinates, expands my way of thinking, and provides a safe platform from which to discuss innovative ideas. If you are looking to lean your ladder against something, make sure it is worth climbing.
It only takes three minutes to tell a compelling story and inspire others to join in the cause of being a force for good.
Why plan? To be at our best when the unexpected presents itself.
What do we sacrifice by only looking at the challenges and potential hazards? Do we posses the fortitude to stay with a project and apply our creativity to etch a pathway? The difference between perspectives often comes from the questions we ask. Which question do we ask of ourselves?
If asked to participate in the unexpected your answer would be _____?
Meet “No Ordinary Passenger” who recommends saying yes (and then sleeping on it).
If we cannot forgive, we are destine to crop our present moment because we are focused elsewhere.
The white terrier raced down the trail at full alert. It proceeded to swing behind me on the single track foothills trail and nip at my heals as I continued my run uphill towards the descending dog’s owner. For three minutes I was corralled by the terrier as it barked and nipped at me. Reaching the dog’s owner (who offered no verbal instruction to the dog) she apologized halfheartedly and continued on. The terrier was already racing off to chase the next hiker behind me.
We all have habits we have no intention of correcting. Acts that break the social contract or do not conform with expected practices. If we are authentic in our communication about these behaviors, people will give us latitude. However, when we ignore them and act as if they happen in isolation on rare occasions, it breaks our trust. We embrace the eccentric when we understand. However, pretending to be one way and acting another with not intention of changing does not breed loyalty.
What-if-concepts 